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The present type of notice adopted is usually in the form of a request to
passengers to abstain from this objectionable habit, 011 the grounds of cleanliness
and danger to the public health, but it is advisable that it should be more
generally known that the railway companies are armed with powers of
repression of this nuisance under one of their bye-laws, which is to the
following effect:—
"No person shall spit upon the floor or upon any part of any carriage
"using or being on the railway, or upon the platform at any station
"of the Company, or upon the floor, side or wall of any hall, office,
"waiting-room, refreshment-room, public room, or public passage at any
"station of the Company. Any person infringing or not observing this
"bye-law and regulation shall be liable to a penalty, and in case of non"compliance
with the request of any servant or agent of the Company
"to desist, may, without prejudice to any such penalty, be forthwith
"removed from the Company's premises by or under the direction of any
"such servant or agent."
The penalty referred to is a fine not exceeding forty shillings for the first
offence, and not exceeding Mo for any subsequent offence.
It will be noticed that under this bye-law, not only is it a punishable
offence to spit upon the floor or upon any part of any carriage using or being
on the railway, but any person who does not comply with the request of any
servant or agent of the Company, may be forthwith removed from the
carriage.
Your Medical Officer suggests, therefore, that the several railway Companies
who have adopted this bye-law, and have stations in the City, be asked
to direct attention to it by public notice posted on their premises, or that if
more agreeable to any Company, the Corporation might offer to provide such
notices, if their exhibition be permitted.
CEREBRO SPINAL FEVER.
The spread of this disease in Central Europe and America having given
rise in some quarters to a doubt whether it may not have newly extended to,
or been developing in this country, the Local Government Board in August,
1905, addressed a Memorandum to all Sanitary Authorities dealing generally
with the characteristic symptoms of the disease, and especially with the minor
anomalous manifestations.
On the recommendation of your Medical Officer, a copy of this Memorandum
was sent to every medical practitioner in the City. This is reproduced on